New iTunes?

Hello,
ok so I have an iPod chromatic and as of yesterday every time i try to get iTunes to connect to my iPod it doesn't reconize its there. Like it won't show up under device or whatever it is. So first of if anyone has a sloution that would be great and I have another question. The iTunes help thing says I should download the new iTunes and that might work, but im wondering if i do that will it automatically delete my old iTunes and if so will the music i got from wrostwire be gone? Please help me, thanks